2025 Porsche Cayenne vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was an extended version of the standard Escalade, introduced as part of a comprehensive redesign for the 2021 model year. It was notably longer than the regular Escalade, measuring 226.9 inches compared to 211.9 inches, with a slightly lower height of 76.4 inches. This additional length was primarily at the rear, enhancing cargo space and providing a more stable ride due to a longer wheelbase of 134.1 inches. The design of the Escalade ESV was characterized by its luxurious appearance, with chrome styling on the Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Premium Luxury Platinum trims, while the Sport and Sport Platinum trims featured blacked-out accents. All versions rode on 22-inch wheels, with variations in finishes and spoke designs depending on the trim level. The exterior was further enhanced by features like LED headlights, a power panoramic moonroof, and various package options that added to its luxury appeal. However, the interior, despite its spaciousness, was criticized for its use of hard plastics and lack of distinctive design elements, which detracted from its overall poshness.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne, available in both standard SUV and sporty Coupe forms, offered a range of trims from the base model to the high-performance Turbo GT. The GTS trim, which was the focus of this review, featured high gloss black trim, bronze exhaust tips, and a unique front fascia with larger air intakes. The interior of the Cayenne was highly customizable, with options for different colors, trims, and even seat belts. The cabin was well-organized, with a mix of screens and mechanical controls for essential functions. The GTS trim came with a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for leather or Race-Tex upholstery. Despite its sporty nature, the Cayenne was also practical, offering a comfortable second row and impressive towing capacity. However, it lacked a third-row seating option, limiting its passenger capacity to five. The cargo space was smaller compared to some competitors, but the Cayenne made up for it with its performance and luxury features.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV offered two engine options: a standard 6.2-liter V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six with 277 horsepower and the same torque output. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations. The Escalade ESV's V8 engine provided adequate power, though it could have benefited from more low-end torque for passing at higher speeds. The vehicle's weight, ranging from 5,785 to 6,182 pounds, contributed to its performance challenges, especially when towing. Fuel economy was not officially rated by the EPA for the ESV, but the traditional Escalade achieved between 17 and 23 mpg combined. During testing, the RWD Escalade ESV averaged around 18 mpg in mixed driving conditions.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a variety of engine options, starting with a base 3.0-liter V6 delivering 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, the Cayenne S featured a V8 with 468 horsepower, while the Turbo GT boasted 650 horsepower, though only available as a coupe. Plug-in hybrid options were also available, with up to 729 horsepower. The GTS trim, tested here, featured a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing 493 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. The Cayenne GTS was quick, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 171 mph. The vehicle's handling was exceptional, with precise steering and a low center of gravity, thanks to components borrowed from the Turbo GT. The GTS trim also featured an active suspension, Pirelli P Zero tires, and optional carbon ceramic brakes, making it a joy to drive on both backroads and highways.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was designed as a luxurious people and cargo hauler, offering leatherette seating surfaces as standard and leather upholstery as an option. The vehicle featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated first- and second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. Buyers could upgrade to 16-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functionality and other premium features. The Escalade ESV provided ample legroom in the first two rows, while the third row was less accommodating for adults. Cargo space was generous, with 126.6 cubic feet behind the first row, 81.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 42.9 cubic feet behind the third row. The power-adjustable third row could be folded using a switch in the cargo area, though it sometimes required manual adjustment. The hands-free power liftgate was a convenient feature, though it worked inconsistently. The Escalade ESV also offered an adaptive air suspension for easier entry and exit, as well as upscale features like a center console cooler.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne, while not offering as many standard features, provided a highly customizable interior. The base model came with eight-way power-adjustable seats, heated but not cooled or massaged without extra cost. The GTS trim featured a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for leather or Race-Tex upholstery. The Cayenne could accommodate five passengers, with a comfortable second row and ample headroom. Cargo space was smaller than some competitors, with 27.3 cubic feet behind the second row in the standard model, expanding to over 60 cubic feet with the seats folded. The coupe version offered slightly less space. The Cayenne's towing capacity was impressive, with the ability to tow over 7,700 pounds. The options list was extensive, allowing buyers to customize nearly every aspect of the interior, from seat adjustments to door sills and floor mats.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was a technological marvel, featuring a standard 19-speaker AKG sound system with an optional upgrade to a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference audio system. The vehicle came equipped with wireless charging, NFC phone pairing, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and seven USB ports. The highlight was a curved 38-inch OLED screen, comprising three separate displays for driver information and infotainment. The OLED technology provided deep blacks and crisp graphics, enhancing the cabin's ambiance. Cadillac's Super Cruise, an advanced driving assist system, was available, allowing for hands-free driving on certain highways. While Super Cruise generally performed well, it occasionally struggled in bright sunlight or poorly-lit areas and required driver intervention when it failed. Despite these issues, Super Cruise was a valuable feature for highway driving.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne boasted an array of screens, including a standard 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display running the Porsche Communication Management system. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Spotify, Apple Music, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control, as well as video streaming. The screens were well-organized and responsive, with voice control available for many functions. A head-up display provided essential information, though it appeared dim with polarized sunglasses. The Cayenne also featured night-vision assist and HD-Matrix Design LED headlamps. The cabin included four high-speed USB-C charging ports and a cooled wireless charging area, ensuring devices remained cool while charging.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV came standard with a suite of safety features, including front automatic braking, front and rear park assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, safety seat alert, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision assist. Additional technologies were available, such as adaptive park assist, a head-up display, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, side blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, night vision, advanced adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, and automatic seatbelt tightening. The NHTSA awarded the Escalade ESV a four-star rating, with a three-star rating in the rollover test due to its top-heavy design.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered standard safety features like parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. However, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning were optional. Porsche's InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system, which looked ahead nearly two miles for traffic incidents, was not tested during the review. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had rated the 2025 Cayenne for safety, and Porsche did not offer a hands-off/eyes-up driving assist system.